SafePlants

Maguey: A Multifaceted Plant of the Americas

The term "maguey" encompasses several American plants, most notably those within the genus Agave, and specifically refers to the mescal and the species Agave americana, also known as the century plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Genus: Agave and Furcraea
• Species: Agave americana
• Family: Agavaceae
• Common Names: century plant, maguey, American aloe

Distribution and Habitat

• Maguey is originally native to Mexico.
• It is a hearty succulent capable of surviving long, dry winters by storing liquid.
• Scholars are studying the Prehispanic importance of maguey in Oaxaca’s southern highlands.

Morphological Characteristics and Uses

• Maguey plants have fibrous sword-shaped leaves arranged in basal rosettes.
• The plant flowers on tall spikes.
• It is used as a source of fiber.
• The plant's sap is used to produce "pulque".
• The maguey is central to the production of tequila and mezcal. Tequila is made from cooked maguey, specifically when manufactured in the Tequila region from a numbered distillery. Any other beverage made from distilling the cooked maguey is mezcal.
• It is used in Mexican cuisine, for example, in the preparation of Aqui es Texcoco's lamb barbacoa.
• The Hnahnu people traditionally use maguey to produce over 100 different products.

Quirky Facts

• The etymology of the word "maguey" comes from a borrowing from the Spanish word "maguey", which in turn comes from the Taino language.
• The plant can grow forty feet into the desert air.